Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-12-15


heir, dropping the lines, went to meet the
wearer of the brillient garment.
John you're never going out in the
storm?" cried the girl, clutching the
sleeve of his rubber coat as he drew near.
"They we're talking about it at the store
when / went in, and l couldn't belive it |
true. Oh, don't-don't risk your life in !
the face of such a wind! Have will of
your own, dear, just for once!n
"You foolish little lass" said the young
man, smiling down at her. A tall, awk- !
ward, fair haired fellow, but the tender
look in his eyes would have made even
palmer man handsome. Don't you know
am more at home on water than on
land? l must go, Hannah! You see Dan
and Steve were telling father last night
about no man being able to GO off while
this storm lasted, and he VOWS he'll do it,
just to prove them wrong. You wouldn't
have me let him go by himself dears"
She clasped her little brown hands ner
vously. ooh, won't he give upSn she falt-
cred, knowing the folly of the question
before 1t left her lips.
John shook his head "When did he
ever give up, Hannah" he answered, half
bitterly, then stopped and kissed the
quiyering mouth. Goodbye, little girl;
III come back to you tonight if wind
and water can bring me-" he said, lightly,
and turned away to his disappearing par
ent on the sand below,
"its fool trip growled Danl the
stout, TO Steve the tall, as the frail little
craft went rocking over the boisterous
waves. Il give doubt if they ever git
back again"
can ell along of our DARN him." said
the downcast Stephen.
Darkness same early that winter day,
and by 3 o'clock even young eyes could
see no longer
Hannah folded her sewing at last, and
pinned her shawl tightly around her.
Mother, shall just run down to Mrs.
krell's to see if the boat is in" she said,
shyly, turning the handle of the door as
she spoke.
ITO Krell'sw The widow rose to her
feet with establishment. "Why, Hannah,
where is your self-respect? Going to
those that have scorned you in every way
they'll turn you from the door for your
pains!' she expostulated, Indignantly.
II am going, nevertheless" persisted
the girl, with a faint little laugh. 81
must know il John is safe" and the clos
ing of the door SHIT her ont from furth
er argument
Il
"Why, Lor bless ua! It's only Mis-
Durant's Hannah cried Mrs. Timothy,
in disappointment as the door opened
to the girls hand, too anxious even to
express her disfavor. ~ made out il.
would be Tim and John for sure"
"Then the boat isn't inY" said her
visitor, dismayed at the fulfllment of her
fears.
Mrs. Timothy pursedvup her mouth
with a look of solemn foreboding, and
shook hpr head discons olately.
indeed 'tisn't. An the storm off shore
is had that the men can't get down to
look fer her. Bat set by, Hannah; I'll be
GLAD enough O your comp'ny till they
come" motIoning the girl to a seat, with
unusual hospitality.
So they waited in silence for hours, it
seemed to Hannah, every nerve and sense
to catch some token of the alb
sent ones. The wife's ear was the first to
hear the sounds OF footsteps coming
through the gate.
Here they be-" she cried joyfully, and
before the echo of her voice died away
Timothy Krell entered. White-faced as
a man of snow his frozen garments rat
ting about him, and look of blankRess
i'll his eyes likeone that has sight and yet
is blind. Striding to the fire, he leaned his
head on the wooden shelf and stood there,
shivering and trembling as if with NOR
tai cold.
The women gaZed at on another with
pale cheeks. What might it mean, tais
solitary man. Where was his SOM
And yet his wife dared not break the
dreadful silence.
Suddenly beside him uprose form,
that 10 the wretehed man seemed az
avenging angel, with wide, dark eyes full
of reproach.
"Where is my John?" questioned Han
nah, laying her hand on his bent shoulder.
But, with a cry of horror, he shook it off,
and fed to the room above, barring the
door against friend and foe.
The girl stood as be left her, her face
turned upward, listening. A keener blast
of wind struck he house and whistled
the shutters with sound that
was almost human.
"Hush." she said, with a warning, lift
ed finger. "My John is calling me! I'm
coming, dear, I'm coming and SO went
ont IA the blackness and tumult.
All that terrible night, while the wind
howled and the water roared, the old man
paced up and down his chamber, the
noise of his footsteps sounding now loud
now low. In the room beneath, with
plying neighbors trying to soothe her,
his wife mourned her only son; while out
in the wind and storm with lantern and
torch, the men searched for the living or
dead.
The storm died away to q far off wall;
one by one the Pickering, yellow flames
of the lanterns grew dim in the light of
coming day "a day SO bright and peace
full, that before its beauty the memory
OF the night might have faded like some
fearful dream, only for the quiet burden
which the searchers with uncovered heads
bore reverently from the beach. Cast
high on the frozen sands, in the crimson
light of morning, they had found Krell's
j Ohm, ROBBED with more dignity in death,
poor lad. than he ever had owned in life;
and close beside him. with her head on
his silent breast, lay Hannah. Had she